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The Hindu Temple v1.c5.s3.t1: The Enclosure

The Hindu Temple v1.c5.s3.t1

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The Enclosure

v1.c5.s3.t1.1

The angles of the square diagram lie in the intermediate directions. They are the turning points and require to be marked. There the pegs are driven into the ground and the cord is stretched between them to fence off the square. A line following the cord should be drawn with a golden or silver style or with curd or with pounded, unhusked rice (Ī.P. III. ch. XXVI, 89). Thus is the site taken possession of, on all sides. It is closed and is given its measure. "Let him fence all quarters so that no obstructions proceed from them" says the 'Mahānirvāna Tantra,' (V. 92), about the Digbandhana, the ritual gesture, the enclosing of a certain space by movements of hands and fingers which is analogous to the initial architectural procedure. That a certain site is delimited; that this site is bordered by the orients of this visible universe; and that its measure is derived from, and demarcates, the movement of the universe, all this is drawn on the ground with the golden style which follows the cord stretched between the four pegs at the corners. This is the preparation of the 'temple'.⁴⁶ It is in continuity of the rites around the Fire altar. "He draws lines around it. He thereby puts a measure to it" (Ś.B. VI. 3. 3. 23—24).

v1.c5.s3.t1.2

⁴⁶ 'Templum' with the Romans, from where the name temple is derived, was the square plot whence auguries were watched and interpreted by the 'contemplating' priests.

Cites (3)